26 May 2004 14:19
Jobless Chechen opts out of presidential race, leaving lone woman candidate
Moscow, 26 May: Khalit Tagirov, a 56-year-old unemployed man from Groznyy, who announced on 25 May his intention to
run for president in Chechnya, has now reconsidered. ITAR-TASS was told at the Chechen electoral commission he had
explained his withdrawal by saying he had "no sponsors to launch an election campaign, while the law says no funds
are allocated for this purpose from the budget".
"There is, therefore, only one remaining candidate for the top post in the republic. She is Mariyat Gorchkhanova
from Urus-Martanovskiy District. She works in the district administration looking after industry, transport and
communication issues," an electoral commission spokesman said. [Passage omitted]
An early presidential election in Chechnya has been set for 29 August following the death of Akhmat Kadyrov in a
terrorist act on 9 May [Victory Day].
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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